Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-10-13
Against the Public Schools.

In the NJrh american Reyie,o
Cardinal Gibbons publishes an arti-
Gle in which he reviews the objec-
tons raised by the Roman Catholic
church against the public school
system. He repeats the plea that
instruction on the subject of relig-
ion is even of more importance than
any other, and advocates the adop-
tion of a system which will allow
the different religious denominations
to establish schools and draw pro-
portionately for their support upon
the public school funds.
This ancient plea would have
some plausibiIity if the subject of
religion were one about which PEG
pie are as generally agreed Is they
are about the branches now taught
in the public schools There is no
dispute about the multiplication
table or the rules of arithmetic;
everybody admits the definition of
an arch or a line which are taught;
the general facts of geography are
conceded on all hands; there are
comparatively few differences of
opinion ABOUT the proper construc
uon of English sentences, the pro-
nunciation and spelling of words;
but when we enter the domain OF re-
ligion, there are not only differences,
but there is conflict of angry and
heated opinions, which is absolutely
irrecOncllable. Teaching religion
is simply the teaching of dogmas of
various and conflicting kinds, nearly
every persons opinion on some
point disagreelug with another's,
while all the centuries, instead of
having tended to produce conSen-
sus'of views, have only increased
their diversity What will be
taught will not be facts, but opinions
and guesses, their character depend
nag upon the mental peculiarltles Of
Of their teacher and the sectarlan
Influences by which he has been
surrounded. For these reasons it
is impossible to teach religion in
schools designed for children of all
seets and classes; while TO divide
the schools among the sects aud the
unbelievers is practically to destroy
their value for the instruction of
children in those practical branches
of education by which they are tit
D
On this subj ect the American people
will prefer the advice of Gen. Grant
to that of Cardinal Gibbons. Gen.
Grant wrote:
! Let ms all labor to add all needful guarantee
for the more perfect security Of free thought,
free speech and free press; of pure morals, I'M
fcttercd religious sentiments, and of equal
rights and privileges TO all men, irrespective of
nationality, color or religion. Encourage free
schools and resolve that not one dollar OF
money appropriated TO their support, no mat
ter how raised, shall be appropriated 70 the
support of any sectariau school. Resolved
that neither the state nor nation. nor both COM
bined, shall support institutions of learning
other than those sufficient to afford every enid
growing up in the land the opportunity OF a
good common .choot education, uumiNed with
seetariau pagan OF athestcal tenets- Leave
/ the matter OF religion 10 the family altar, the
church and the private school. supported en-
tircly 10y private contributions. Keep the
church and state forever separate.
This is the sound American doe
TRUE on the question of public ed
ucatlon. The claim that religion,
/ instruction must be given IN the
public schools Ia order to produce
/ good and moral citizens Is not jus
uhed by any evidence that has yet
/ been produced 1t may be safely
affirmed that the men and women
" no have received their education
Ia such schools are, in respect y
morality and virtue, in no degree
/ inferior to those whose instruction
has been given in the sectauau
schools, aud we challenge any per
son To produce evidence which con
tradlcts this assertion. .Rti,catket
( Sentinel